AJ Dybantsa
Dybantsa is the No. 1 overall pick and a rookie who is expected to be a starting wing once his left ankle sprain clears. He has not played a regular-season minute, and no return date has been confirmed.
Role
Fox Sports (about a week old) said he was slated to open 2026-27 as the starting small forward, and NBC Sports noted he started his preseason debut. Preseason minutes were modest: he averaged 21.7 over four games (Basketnews), with 15 in the finale before he left hurt. No regular-season usage rate exists yet. Bilal Coulibaly took his starting spot in the opener. NBC Sports lists that opener starting five as Trae Young, Kyshawn George, Coulibaly, Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr. Khris Middleton and Deandre Ayton are also on the roster per NBC Los Angeles. I have not read a current depth chart or minutes tracker. I could not confirm how many minutes he will get once he returns or whether he keeps the starting job.
Scouts describe him as a high-usage scoring wing who creates his own shot and gets to the line (NBA.com draft profile). He scored 25.5 points per game at BYU. In preseason he scored in double figures in each of the four games he played, and Fox Sports said he should see consistent minutes. Coach Brian Keefe has called the sprain mild and said the team does not expect a significant absence.
He has missed the opener and at least the next three games, and he is now ruled out for Monday at Charlotte. Basketnews lists Wednesday against the Cavaliers as his next chance to debut. The Wizards say they will not rush him, and the roster is crowded with veterans: Young, Davis, Middleton, Ayton, Coulibaly and George. His preseason shooting was inefficient, with field goal percentages of 40 to 50 and several turnovers in one game. His minutes were limited, and he may be on a restriction when he returns, though I found no report of one.
Where analysts split
Broad agreement on the role: sources expect him to start and play consistently. The open question is timing, meaning when the ankle clears and whether he is eased in on a minutes limit. No source I found addresses that limit.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
Others at PF
Fantasy Memo reads your league and answers that every Monday, and checks your lineup on the days you play.
Connect your league: 14 days free